KENNY SHIELS is set to face SFA beaks over flashpoints in TWO separate matches.

But one of the men who gave the outspoken Kilmarnock gaffer his first dugout job insists he ISN’T a hothead.

Shiels is in hot water after reacting with fury when skipper Manuel Pascali was red-carded by Stevie O’Reilly against St Johnstone last weekend.

He’s also in trouble over comments about ref Euan Norris after the defeat to Inverness Caley Thistle.

Hunter McClelland, a director of Irish side Coleraine, recalls an incident similar to the Saints row back at the start of Shiels’ managerial career in 1996 when he was sent to the stand in a cup final. He claims the Killie boss’s only problem is that he speaks his mind.

McClelland said: “In that cup final against Crusaders there was an incident in the first half where one of their players blatantly elbowed one of our lads, breaking his nose.

“The ref only showed a yellow card and Kenny wasn’t happy.

“He waited for the ref at half-time and exchanged words with him. That continued as they went up the tunnel and when the second half started Kenny wasn’t in the dugout — he’d been sent to the stand.

“After the game the local media asked Kenny what had been said and his response was very typical of him. He said the ref told him he was sending him off for ‘remonstrating’ with him. That was the word he used. The authorities weren’t happy but I don’t think Kenny was called before them.

“As a young manager he had his moments when he said more than he should have but he was with us for six years and by the time he left us he’d matured a bit.

“Our manager now, Oran Kearney, is the complete opposite. He’s quiet, measured and thoughtful in what he says — despite being Kenny’s son-in-law!”

McClelland — currently writing a history of Coleraine — says Shiels’ passion is his downfall.

He said: “He’s a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve and I think that’s why players who’ve worked under him like him so much.

“I don’t really think there’s much devilment about him when he gets involved with referees or other managers. He just says what he thinks.”

But McClelland says Shiels could also turn the other cheek in the face of provocation.

He said: “There was a famous incident when Kenny was here and Coleraine beat Linfield, who were managed by David Jeffrey.

“As he was getting on the bus after the game, David made a remark to Kenny about how many medals he’d won as a player compared to him.